David's Lad, winner of the Irish Grand National in 2001, looks set to miss the Aintree Grand National on April 5th after his run in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas attracted the attention of the stewards.
The ante-post second favourite for the Martell-sponsored event at Liverpool never threatened the principals towards the rear throughout and eventually trailed in last of 7 finishers. The Stewards took a dim view and fined trainer Tony Martin €1,000, suspended rider Timmy Murphy for 7 days and suspended the horse for 42 days for using the racecourse as a training ground.
As things stand this effectively rules David's Lad out of the English National but Martin said on leaving the course: "I was happy with the ride and after consulting the owners will consider an appeal. Timmy could have been more forceful, I suppose, but he knows the horse best and felt he couldn't cope with the soft ground from six out."
Elsewhere, Rosaker, a three-time winner on the flat in Dubai, notched up his second win over hurdles when he captured the Woodlands Park 100 Johnston Novice Hurdle. After Paul Carberry forged the 8/1 shot past front-running Mossy Green on the run down to the final flight to score, winning trainer Noel Meade remarked: "I was surprised he was 8/1 as he worked very well the other day and usually when one of ours works well they usually start favourite."
The Newmarket October Sales purchase Rosaker is well regarded by the Navan handler but is unlikely to travel to Cheltenham, Fairyhouse or Punchestown would look more likely at this stage. Meade and Carberry were both back in the winners enclosure later when the Grand Alliance Racing Club-owned Arctic Copper prevailed in the 2m Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial.
"I've never got a thrill out of a horse winning for a long time," said Meade of the 9yo, who was led in by former senator Liam Cosgrave, one of 17 members in the Oireachtas based syndicate. "He had won about 50,000 before today and now this prize of 39,000 so I'm thrilled for his owners. He'll go to Cheltenham for the Mildmay Of Flete (20/1 from 22/1 Paddy Power) next," he added.
Willie Mullins showed for the third time in four days that his string are beginning to rekindle their old sparkle when Nobody Told Me made a winning debut over hurdles in the opener. "He was only rated 63 on the flat but he's a different kettle of fish over hurdles," said Mullins, who also revealed that, "this was probably one of the sickest horses in the yard over the winter but he made a great recovery."
Successful also with Cheltenham-bound bumper contenders Mr Babbage and Davenport Democrat in recent days, Mullins issued an upbeat bulletin on his string when he remarked, They are definitely better in themselves at home. Al O'Connell's Glens Music has become something of a course specialist at Naas and she notched up her 5th success at the venue when coming out on top in an incident-packed Anglo Irish Bank Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase.
Only four finished including well supported runner-up Eskimo Jack, who blundered his chance away with a horrible mistake at the seventh. True Blue Victory defied top-weight under Ruby Walsh to win the Naas Supporters Handicap Hurdle and earned a 20/1 quote for the County Hurdle with Cashmans.
Light-weight Property Partners was left in front when Back To Bolgers tragically came to grief at the last in the 3m handicap hurdle. His exit left Sam Curling, successful in the opener aboard Nobody Told Me, to come home unchallenged to complete an 84/1 double and yield 3 winners of the Jackpot worth 12,137.40 each.
John Oliver, supported at 4/1 before racing, was all the rage for the finale and he duly obliged at even money in the hands of to amateur Philip Fenton.
